Kingsley Agyemang advocates for dedicated flood management funds in Africa
Dr. Kingsley Agyemang, Member of Parliament for Abuakwa South, has called for the establishment of legally protected disaster risk management funds in Africa to address the growing threat of floods. Speaking to the British Broadcasting Corporation’s Focus on Africa, he proposed an integrated funding model drawing from government budgets, mineral revenues, corporate taxes, levies, and development partners. This approach would enable countries to build financial reserves and invest in prevention, preparedness, and resilience, moving away from a reactionary reliance on emergency donations. Dr. Agyemang, an insurance and risk management expert, highlighted that while early warning systems often exist, governments lack the financial resources and coordination to act effectively. He recommended that these funds be established by legislation and ring-fenced to prevent diversion, emphasizing that disaster preparedness is a core governmental responsibility. He noted that his reviews have not identified an African country operating such a legislatively backed fund. His proposal follows severe flooding in West Africa, including Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire, with climate change expected to increase the frequency and severity of such events. Dr. Agyemang also pointed out that weak institutional coordination, political interference in urban planning, and low insurance penetration undermine flood resilience. He cited flood risk-pooling mechanisms in the UK and US as examples for African countrie
